This past weekend, an impressive field of 1,576 players gathered in Utrecht, Netherlands for Magic Spotlight: Modern. With $50,000 in prizes and eight coveted Pro Tour invitations up for grabs, everyone was at the top of their game. After fifteen grueling Swiss rounds of Modern followed by a high-stakes Top 8 playoff, Raul Porojan emerged victorious with his Orzhov Blink deck!
Open-Field Events Return to Europe
The Magic Spotlight Series has reignited the excitement of competitive, open-field tournaments that offer players a direct path to the Pro Tour alongside exclusive promos and a $50,000 prize pool. The hall was buzzing with energy as players packed into the venue, battling through rounds of Modern and reconnecting with friends. Many compared the atmosphere to the beloved Grand Prix circuit—a long-running, open Magic tournament series from years past.
"It feels like a Grand Prix for me," said Sven Dijt, a longtime Dutch player whose Magic career stretches back to a Top 8 finish at the very first Grand Prix in 1997. "There are so many players. There are a lot of international players, so every round you're playing against someone from a different country. And there's prestige—you can qualify directly for the Pro Tour. It's wonderful. People have been hungry to have these events again."
Indeed, the tournament attracted players from around the world, including some of the best in the game. Brazil and China's Regional Champions, Pedro Perrini and Wang Kunrui respectivley, made the journey to Utrecht with the very same Modern decks that won them their titles a few weeks ago. Christian Calcano, the runner-up of Pro Tour The Lord of the Rings, was eager for another shot at the Pro Tour and traveled all the way from the United States. Even Stefan Schütz from Austria, who had already locked in his invite to the next Pro Tour, couldn't resist the draw of the competition. "I love these tournaments," he said. "I'm very happy that they are back."
But the event wasn't just for seasoned veterans. It was a melting pot of competitors, some of which were attending their first major tournament. Others were returning after years away, relishing the chance to play Magic at a high level. Groups of friends traveled together, rekindling connections from past events while forging new ones. That sense of camaraderie, more than anything else, is what makes these open tournaments so special.
The weekend also saw the return of longtime players like Mattias Jorstedt, who finished in 91st place. More than 20 years ago, he won Pro Tour Yokohama during a season where he made three Pro Tour Top 8s. Though he eventually stepped away from competitive play, the lure of Magic is hard to resist. "It's really difficult to stay at the top of your game when you're not surrounded by world-class players. But I love the game," he said.
Now a father of two, he admitted he has far less time to dedicate to Magic, but he was thrilled to see so many familiar faces in Utrecht. "It's a very nice event."
This sentiment echoed across the hall, especially among competitive players who had to take a step back due to family or work commitments. Ben Seck, who won Grand Prix events on multiple continents several decades ago, was lured back by the direct line to the Pro Tour and the chance to reconnect with old friends. With the support of his wife, and viewing this event as an ideal weekend break, he made the trip: "I want to qualify, I want to do well, but I'm here for the fun."
A Diverse and Deep Modern Metagame
In the weeks leading up to Magic Spotlight: Modern, Temur Breach cemented itself as the undisputed top deck in Modern. "The deck is obviously broken. It feels like you're playing Vintage," said Nils Gutiérrez von Porat, who finished in 69th place with the deck.
As expected, Temur Breach was the most-played deck in Utrecht, but its dominance wasn't as overwhelming as many had anticipated. While it made up 22.6% of the field at recent Regional Championships, its representation at the Spotlight Series event was nearly halved, falling to just 12.2%.
Instead, the tournament hall buzzed with innovation. With a card pool spanning more than two decades, Modern fosters a staggering variety of strategies, and the larger field in Utrecht offered a perfect showcase for the format's diversity. Ruby Storm, Eldrazi Tron, Azorius Control, Affinity, Golgari Yawgmoth, Merfolk, and the always-alluring "Other" category was made sizeable appearances. Lesser-seen strategies like Esper Oculus, Eldrazi Metalcraft, Samwise Gamgee Combo, Mono-Green Broodscale, Tameshi Belcher, and Boros Burn—each representing around 1% of the field—all left their mark on the competition as well.
Even spicier options found real success as well. Lantern Control, Mardu Blink, Neobrand, Simic Eldrazi, Dimir Midrange, and Domain Living End made deep Day Two runs, proving that an innovative deck in thehands of the right player could go the distance. For a closer look at the weekend's spiciest decklists, check out this week's Metagame Mentor. For the full breakdown from the top performing players' builds, the Top 32 decklists are available here.
The Top 8 Qualified for the Pro Tour
After fifteen rounds of Swiss Modern play, eight players emerged to battle in the single-elimination rounds for the trophy, two of which were running Temur Breach. Each of these Top 8 players secured invitations to Pro Tour Magic: The Gathering®—FINAL FANTASY™, set to take place at MagicCon: Las Vegas on June 20–22, 2025. We look forward to seeing all of them on Magic's biggest stage!
The Top 8 showcased a mix of rising stars from across Europe, each with their own unique reasons for choosing their Modern deck. In Swiss standing order, here is what they said:
- Nuno Vale (Portugal) – Eldrazi Ramp: "I hate when other players have more lands than I do.
Sowing Mycospawn does everything I want!" - Bartek Wojciechowsk (Poland) – Temur Breach: "It's without a doubt the best deck in the format, and I put a lot of work into perfecting my play with it."
- Alberto Manchado (Spain) – Temur Breach: "
Ledger Shredder [in my sideboard] was very good for grindy matchup. I really wanted to play the [next Pro Tour] as I am a big fan of FINAL FANTASY." - Arthur Brocsko (Belgium) – Amulet Titan: "It doesn't have a bad Breach matchup and is a very resilient deck, even though learning how to play it was hard."
- Sebastian Sachse (Germany) – Mono-Green Broodscale: "I liked the deck and felt confident playing it.
Karn, the Great Creator [in my sideboard] changed my bad Breach matchup into something very playable post-board." - Lorenzo Bellettini (Italy) – Grixis Shadow: "I usually play blue tempo decks, but in this meta I didn't like just Dimir. I added the red, saw
Dismember as a good answer to Ketramose, put it all together, and it's working." - Wladimir Jerger (Germany) – Hollow One: "I didn't test that much and just hoped for the best.
Blazing Rootwalla andDetective's Phoenix are best friends—so many miles walked together." - Raul Porojan (Germany) – Orzhov Blink: "Solid card advantage engines, fair matchups across the board, and many complicated decisions for not only me but also my opponent."
For the Top 8 players, qualifying for the Pro Tour was a dream realized. "I've always wanted to go to the Pro Tour, and I finally get a chance to do so," Arthur Brocsko explained. Bartek Wojciechowsk shared a similar sentiment: "It has been my dream for most of my post-pandemic life, and I worked hard for it. I could not be happier to make this dream come true."
Raul Porojan, before going on to the the event, summed it up perfectly: "When it comes to Magic, the Pro Tour is everything to me. There's nothing else that matters."
With their Pro Tour invites secured, the Top 8 players then battlefield for the trophy and the big prizes. After a tense quarterfinals, nail-biting semifinals, and a thrilling final, one player emerged victorious.
Raul Porojan and Orzhov Blink
After an intense weekend of competition, Raul Porojan claimed the trophy and secured his place in Magic history. A seasoned competitor with three Grand Prix Top 8 appearances to his name, Porojan had spent much of his recent Magic time grinding on MTG Arena. His dive into Modern came just days before the event, but his strong fundamentals carried him to the top. While his Orzhov Blink deck was recently bolstered by Aetherdrift's
Before the Top 8 kicked off, Porojan reflected on what was at stake: "Competitive Magic is one of the biggest enjoyments of my life, and I think I have a lot left to prove." A premier event title had always eluded him—until now. The prizes matched the prestige of the victory. In addition to the trophy and a $10,000cash prize, Porojan won 12 Modern Horizons 2 Draft Booster boxes and 12 Modern Horizons 3 Play Booster boxes.
A Weekend to Remember
Beyond the high-level competition, Fanfinity organized a weekend packed with side events, live streaming coverage, incredible artist booths, and immersive experiences for Magic fans. It was a true celebration of the game we all love. Until the next event, here's a glimpse at some of the weekend's highlights.
See you at the Next Spotlight Series!
As the event concluded, many players were already setting their sights on the next Magic Spotlight Series. The next European Spotlight Series event will be Liverpool, England, from October 31–November 2. Meanwhile, world travelers like Christian Calcano and Ben Seck are eager to qualify for the Pro Tour and are preparring for Magic Spotlight: Dragons at SCG CON Denver on April 11–13.
For Ben Seck, the Spotlight Series is especially appealing: "Even though I think Regional Championships are more difficult to win, I don't like the fact that you have to do multiple steps," he explained, referencing his responsibilities as a father of two. "I can't play in every RCQ or RC because I have a lifestyle that doesn't allow me to do it. But for the Spotlight Series, up to a certain point, I'll go to all of them."